Oceans

How does water move on the surface of the ocean?

Surface currents (wind)

Is salt-water more/less dense than freshwater?

more dense

What is the flat, low area of the ocean called?

abyssal plain

movement of ocean water in a flow

ocean currents

Why are ocean currents important?

They distribute heat, animals, salt

1 factor that controls surface currents

wind patterns

Deepest Point in the Ocean

Mariana Trench (10,935 ft)

Is cold water more or less dense than warm

More dense

Cause of ocean waves

wind/energy

northern currents move

clockwise

southern currents move:

counter-clockwise

Why do currents move in different directions?

Coriolis Effect

How do the sun and moon cause the ocean tides?

Both pull at the earth, causing bulges on the side

disturbance that moves energy

wave

4 parts of a wave

amplitude, crest, wavelength, trough

Cause of rip currents

water returning to the ocean

long waves that move towards the coast

tide

water is at its greatest elevation

high tide

water is at its lowest elevation

low tide

How does the moon’s gravity pull ocean water?

Creating a gravitational pull on Earth’s water

Cycle duration of high/low tide

6 hrs and 12.5 minutes

Occurs on full/new moon

spring tide

Occurs on quarter moons

neap tide

Occurs when sun and moon are at 90º angle

Neap tide

Weakest tide

Neap tide

3 ways tsunamis generate energy

volcanic eruption, earthquake, landslide

A coral is made up of

polyps

Function of cells in polyps

perform photosynthesis

Why do corals bleach

runoff from farms/pollution

ongoing decrease in PH of ocean water

Ocean acidification

Cause of ocean acidification

uptake of CO2

How does ocean acidification make marine life grow?

organisms can’t build shells/coral reffs are destroyed

6 threats to Marine Biomes

-pollution

-climate change

-overfishing

-plastic

-invasive species

-ocean acidification